Store-service cabinet



A M. WOLTZ.

' STORE SERVICE CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED "18.11, 192l- 1,406,129, Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

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STORE SERVICE CABINET.

APPLICATION'FILED FEB. 17, I921.

1,406,129. Patented Feb. 7,1922.

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l I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT M. WOLTZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SOLOMON HIMMEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STORE-SERVICE CABINET.

To all whom it may 0012 061%:

Be it known that l, ALBERT M. WoL'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baitimore, tate of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Store-Service Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a cabinet primarily de-- signed for mercantile establishments but not limited to such use.

All merchants sooner or later, are confronted with the problem of obtaining adequatespace for the storage and display of shelf goods. This is particularly true in drug and grocery stores, where the goods are often in packages of miscellaneous sizes. Back of the prescription counter of a drug store for instance, the pharmacist is usually confronted with the problem of maintaining a complete supply of drugs, many of them in small packages, in a very limited space, and so stored that they may be quickly reached.

One of the objects of the invention is to solve the foregoing problems, by providing a cabinet which will have adequate storage space for shelf goods, within a minimum of shelfspace. A further object is to provide a cabinet with one or more drawers, slidable into and out of an enclosure, and capable of being-swung on an axis so as to lie parallel with the front of the cabinet. A further object is to provide a drawer divided into two compartments. and mounted to swing in either direction to selectively expose the respective compartments. A further object is to provide means for controlling the sliding and rotating movements of the drawer. A further object is to provide a slidable base for the drawer, and means for slidably and rotatably supporting the drawer upon said base in such manner that rotation of the drawer is prevented until it reaches one extreme of its sliding movement, and sliding movement is prevented after the drawer has been partially rotated while in said extreme position.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating shelving constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating one of the drawers and its enclosing cabinet portion. Figure 3 is a lon- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1921. Serial No. 445,836.

gitudinal sectional view illustrating a portion of one of the drawers and its base, removed from the cabinet. Figure 4 is a top plan view illustrating the base and the drawer guide means. Figure 5 is a detail plan view illustrating the sliding base. Figure 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the lock for the sliding base.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the guide members.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a cabinet constructed of end pieces 11, shelves 12 and partitions 13, the spaces between the partitions forming drawer-receiving chambers 14.

Slidably mounted in guideways 15, secured to the opposite side walls of the respective chambers 14, are bases or supports 16, each of which is provided with a spring catch 17, positioned to engage a notch 18, formed in one of the guideways 15. Outward movement of each base or support is limited by reason of its spring catch 17 engaging a complemental notch 18, in one of the contiguous guideways 15.

Each base 16 is provided with a longitudinally disposed guide channel 19, terminating at one end in a circular enlargement'20, said channel being intersected by curved offsets 21, conforming to an arc having its center coincident with the center of theenlargement 20. The offsets 21 combined, constitute an approximate semi-circle. The guide channel 19, enlargement 20, and offsets 21 are provided with under-cut grooves 22 as shown, to receive the flanged portions of guide members 23 and 24, the body portions of said members projecting above the sides of the guide channel and its offsets. The guide'member 23 is circular in plan view, and the guide member 24 is elongated, the body portion thereof being of a length approximately equal to the diameter of the enlargement 20. d The drawer 25 may be of any desired construction, but as shown is provided with a central partition 26, dividing the same into two longitudinal compartments. The end walls of the compartments may be provided with crossed grooves 27, to receive shelves and partitions 28, as shown, whereby adequate storage space is provided for various articles, large and small. The bottom of the drawer is secured to the guide members 23 and 24, the guide member 24 being secured at the center of said bottom, and the guide member 23, being longitudinally spaced therefrom toward the inner end of the drawer. The front of the drawer is provided with a depending shoulder 29, which.

overhangs the forward edge of the base 16, and serves as an abutment to engage said edge.

In practice, when the drawer is pushed back into the chamber 14:, it rests upon and holds the spring catch 17 normally retracted, the base 16 and the drawer 25 being completely enclosed within said chamber. When it is desired to gain access to the contents of a drawer, the selected drawer is pulled outwardly longitudinally of its base 16, the guide members 23 and 24 sliding in the guide channel 19 and grooves 22, insuring rectilinear movement of the drawer without binding. The guide members 23 and 24: are so spaced, that when the member 24 enters the enlargement 20, the member 23 is positioned at the intersection of the offsets 21 with the guide groove 19. When the parts have reached the position mentioned, the drawer is only partially withdrawn from the cabinet. A continued outward movement ofthe drawer, however, through the engagement of the guide member 24- with the enlargement 20, will draw the base 16 outwardly until the spring catch 17 engages the notch 18. Said notch is so located, that it will 'arrest'movement of the drawer and its base, when the drawer has been moved outwardly a sufficient distance to clear the front of the cabinet. While in this position, the drawer may be swung upon the guide member 2 1 as a pivot, the guide member 23 traveling in either offset 21 according tothe direction in which the drawer is suaing. It will be readily understood, of course, that the drawer will be swung in a direction to expose the compartment which contains the articles to which access'is desired.

It will also be readily understood from the drawing, that the drawer may be swung in either direction when in its outermost position without contacting-with the front of the cabinet.

The relative positions of the guide members 23 and 2 1, are such that it is impossible to move the drawer into the cabinet, until the said guide members are both in register with the longitudinal guide channel 19. Thus, it will be impossible to strike the front of the cabinet, or to mar the same by carelessness in returning the drawer into the cabinet. WVhen it is desired to close the drawer, it is swung on the guidemember 24: until the guide member 23 is in register wit-h the groove 19, whereupon the drawer may be moved longitudinally into the cabinet. During the early part of the return movement of the drawer the base 16 is held immovable by reason of the engagement of the spring catch 17 with the notch 18. As the drawer moves inwardly, it depresses said spring catch, and almost immediately the depending front shoulder 29 of the drawer. engages the outer end of the base, and causes the same to travel inwardly with the drawer.

The advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. It will be particularly noted that by employing double drawers of the character described, possessing means for division {into numerous smaller 'compartments, adequate storing facilities are provided in a minimum of shelf space; it also reduces the number of partitions necessary to the width of a cabinet, and therefore conserves space. By providing a drawer which may be swung in either direction, so as to lie parallel with the front of the cabinet, relatively large drawers may be employed, thereby reducing the number of drawers and their adjuncts required for any given installation. By means of the slidable base having the guiding means shown and described, rectilinear movement of the drawer with respect to the cabinet is insured, both for the opening and closing movements. It will also be understood that it is impossible to mar or injure the front of the cabinet, by carelessness on the part of the operator in closing the drawer, because inward movement of the latter is prevented, imtil the entire drawer is in alinement with its chamber.

an important advantage of the slidingbase is that it conserves space, in that an adequate support for the drawer is provided, ithout taking up space between the sides of the drawer and the partitions between which it reciprocates. The sliding base also provides a central support for the drawer and the weight of its contents, and eliminates any strain on the drawer which would result if it were supported and pivoted at its corners. V

Another advantage is obtained by constructing the guide member 24 of elongated form and providing the enlargement 21 in which it mayrotate. For instance, when the guide member 23 is within one of the offsets 21, there is a tendency for the drawer to pivot thereon during its swinging movement, and thereby cause the member 24: to drift backwardly in the guide channel. This backward drifting is prevented in the construction disclosed, because the slightestrd tation of said member 21, causes it tov lie transversely of the channel, and any rear ward movement is arrested by reason of'the said member contactlng wlth the wallof the enlargement 20.

Having thus explained the nature of they invention and described an operative manner of constructing and usingthe same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. In a store service cabinet, a slidably supported base, a drawer slidably and rotatably engaging said base, and complemental means on the drawer and the base for preventing relative rotation until the drawer reaches the extreme of its sliding move ment in one direction.

2. In a tore service cabinet, a slidably supported base provided with a guideway, a drawer, guide members secured to said drawer and engaging said guideway, said guide members and said guideway having complemental means for preventing rotation of the drawer until it reaches the extreme of its sliding movement in one di-' rection.

8. In a store service-cabinet, a slidably supported base, and a drawer, one of them having a guideway and the other a plurality of guide members complemental to the guideway and relatively positioned to free the drawer for rotation at the extreme of its sliding movement in one direction.

4. In a store service cabinet, a slidably supported base provided with a longitudinally disposed guide means, a relatively slidable drawer having a plurality of guide members engaging said guide means, said guide members and said guide means having complemental means for normally preventing rotation of the drawer and for freeing it for rotation when it reaches the limit of its sliding movement in one direction.

5. In a store service cabinet, a base provided with a guide channel having a curved offset, a drawer provided with spaced apart guide members engaging said channel, said members being relatively spaced to bring one of them into register with said offset when the other is at one extreme of said channel.

6. In a store service cabinet, a base having a guide channel provided with oppositely disposed curved lateral ofi'sets, a drawer having spaced apart guide members normally engaging said channel, said guide members being relatively spaced to bring one of them in register with said ofisets when the other is at one extreme of said guide channel.

7. In a store service cabinet, a base having a longitudinal guideway provided at one end with an enlargement and having a curved offset contiguous to said enlargement, a drawer provided with guide members so spaced that one of them will be in register with said ofi'set when the other is in engagement with said enlargement.

8. In a store service cabinet, a base provided with a longitudinally disposedguideway having an enlargement at one end and a curved offset, a drawer, a circular guide member engaging said guideway and secured to the drawer, andan elongated guide member engaging the guideway and also secured to the drawer, said guide members being so spaced that the circular member will be in register with said offset when the elongated member is in engagement with said enlargement.

9. A store service cabinet comprising a shelf or support, a base slidably supported by said shelf, means for limiting'the sliding movement of said base, a drawer slidably and rotatably mountedupon said base, and complemental means on the drawer and the base for preventing relative rotation until the drawer reaches the limit of its sliding movement-in one direction.

10. A store service cabinet comprising a shelf, a base slidably supported thereby, a catch for limiting sliding movement of said base in one direction, a drawer slidably and rotatably mounted on said base, said catch being positioned to be disengaged by the drawer when the latter is moved in one direction.

11. A store service cabinet comprising a shelf, a base slidably supported thereby and provided with a longitudinal guide channel provided with oppositely disposed breaks in its side walls, means for limiting sliding movement of the base in one direction, spaced apart guide members engaging said channel, a drawer to which said guide members are secured, one of said guide members being positioned to engage one end of said guide channel, whereby sliding movement may be imparted to the base through movement of the drawer, the other guide member being in register with both breaks in the wall of the guide channel, whereby the drawer is free for rotation in either direction.

12. A store service cabinet comprising a shelf, a base slidably supported thereby and provided with a longitudinal guide channel having an opening in its side wall, means for limiting sliding movement of the base in one direction, spaced apart guide members engaging said channel, a drawer to which said guide members are secured, one of said guide members being positioned to engage one end of said guide channel, whereby sliding movement may be imparted to the base through outward movement of the drawer, the other guide member at that time being in register with said opening to free the drawer for rotation, said drawer being provided with a depending shoulder positionedto engage the front edge of the base when the drawer is moved inwardly, whereby corresponding inward movement is imparted to the base. I

13. A store service cabinet comprising a shelf, a base slidably supported thereby and provided with a guide groove having a curved offset, means for limiting sliding which said V movement of the base in one direction, guide members engaging said channel, a drawer to uide members are secured, said members being so spaced that one of them engages the end of the guide groove during sliding movement of the drawer, whereby sliding movement may be imparted to the base through rectilinear movement of the drawer, the other guide member being in register with the curved offset to free the 7 drawer for rotation.

-ous end of the longitudinal guideway, and

means operative while the first guide member is within said offset to prevent rearward movement of the second guide member.

15. A store service cabinet comprising a base having a longitudinally disposed guideway provided with a curved offset contigu- V ous to one end thereof, a drawer, guide members secured to said drawer and engaging said guideway, said guide members being i so spaced that one will be in register with the offset when the other is at the contiguous end of the longitudinal guideway, said guideway and the second guide member having complemental means for preventing rearward movement of said second guide member while the first guide member is within said ofl'set.

16. In a store service cabinet, an article carrying drawer mounted for longitudinal and rotative movements, means for supporting the drawer when wholly withdrawn from the cabinet, said drawer and said supporting means having complemental guide elements to prevent rotative movement of the drawer until it is wholly withdrawn from the cabinet, said supporting means and said complemental guide elements being relatively positioned to centrally support the drawer when withdrawn from the cabinet and during rotative movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT M. WOLTZ. 

